Shorne Wood Country Park
Encyclopedia
Shorne Wood Country Park is in Gravesend
, in Kent
, England. It was once part of a large estate and then later passed to the council to be used as a country park.
Estate. The main entrance to the Hall, leads through the park with various other carriage rides around the estate.
Then from the 1930's to the 1970's, part of the estate (was leased by Lord Darnley) was used for clay extraction (by a cement company), using clay pit
beneath the ancient woodland.
Then in 1987, the 288 acres (1,165,495.7 m²) of land, came under ownership of Kent County Council
, then with the help of Gravesham
Borough Council, it was turned into a country park and then opened to the public.
The wetland ponds have many species of dragonflies, which breed in the park. The park has become a Site of Special Scientific Interest
, (SSSI).
The country park has many colour-coded waymarked paths around the country park. These include; Purple Route - Easy 1.4km, Red Route - Medium, Explorer Trail - 3.7miles, Heritage Trail - 2.2miles). A Longer trail (the Darmley Trail - 6.2miles) has also been developed taking area outside of Shorne Wood park, including Darnley Mausoleum
, Jeskyns
(a one-time farm of 360 acres (147 ha), which is being turned into a greenspace area and country park by the Forestry Commission
) , Ranscombe Farm and Cobham Hall
.
There is also a horse riding and cycle path route around the park. As well as a Sensory Garden for the less abled.
Disabled visitors can also use 4*4 electro-scooters (called a Tramper), which can be hired from the visitor centre.
The park also has an eco-friendly visitor centre. Oak
thinnings were used from Park Wood, Kent near Appledore
, as the window and roof joinery.
It is mostly powered by a wind turbine. The centre, has a shop, display boards and cafe.
To the east of the park, are the Furzey Leas Lakes. Steps Lake is 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²) , and Long Lake is 0.65 acres (2,630.5 m²) These are used as angler permitted lakes, on Day Tickets (obtained from the visitor centre).
Since 2006, the park has had a Community Archaeologist as funded by the Heritage Lottery. Finds from the Stone Age
(flint tools) to World War II
items have been found. Most work has been taken place around the remains of Randall Manor. This was the home of Sir Henry de Cobham who lived there in 1360 to 1400. The house would have been similar to Ightham Mote
but without a moat
. The excavations show that it was a substantial timber-framed hall house with a stone built end. It had a garderobe
and a separate kitchen making it a high status building. It had outbuildings and three fishponds. It was demolished in 1500 and the building materials re-used in the nearby Cobham Hall
, now a girls' school.
More details of what was found in the park can be seen at http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/heritage/getting_involved/randall_manor_dig_blog_2010.aspx.
One of the '100 Walks in Kent' Book starts in the country park, before heading towards Owletts (a National Trust
House), Cobham
and Cobham Hall
and then returning to the park.
and Rochester. The along Brewer's Road leading towards Shorne.
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
, in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England. It was once part of a large estate and then later passed to the council to be used as a country park.
History
This park was once part of the large Cobham HallCobham Hall
Cobham Hall is a country house in Cobham, Kent, England. There has been a manor house on the site since the 12th century. The current building consists of a pair of Tudor wings built for William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham in the 16th century and a later classical central block, and a kitchen court...
Estate. The main entrance to the Hall, leads through the park with various other carriage rides around the estate.
Then from the 1930's to the 1970's, part of the estate (was leased by Lord Darnley) was used for clay extraction (by a cement company), using clay pit
Clay pit
A clay pit is a quarry or mine for the extraction of clay, which is generally used for manufacturing pottery, bricks or Portland cement.The brickyard or brickworks is often located alongside the clay pit to reduce the transport costs of the raw material. These days pottery producers are often not...
beneath the ancient woodland.
Then in 1987, the 288 acres (1,165,495.7 m²) of land, came under ownership of Kent County Council
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
, then with the help of Gravesham
Gravesham
Gravesham is a local government district and borough in North West Kent, England. It has borders with the River Thames to the north; the City of Rochester and Medway to the east; the borough of Tonbridge and Malling ; and the boroughs of Sevenoaks and Dartford to the west.Its council is based at...
Borough Council, it was turned into a country park and then opened to the public.
Facilities
It has large areas of ancient woodland and heathland meadows. The former claypit is being returned to nature (with woodland and wetland areas).The wetland ponds have many species of dragonflies, which breed in the park. The park has become a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, (SSSI).
The country park has many colour-coded waymarked paths around the country park. These include; Purple Route - Easy 1.4km, Red Route - Medium, Explorer Trail - 3.7miles, Heritage Trail - 2.2miles). A Longer trail (the Darmley Trail - 6.2miles) has also been developed taking area outside of Shorne Wood park, including Darnley Mausoleum
Darnley Mausoleum
The Darnley Mausoleum, is a Grade I Listed Building, situated in Cobham Woods, Kent . It was designed by James Wyatt for the 4th Earl of Darnley according to detailed instructions in the will of the 3rd Earl of Darnley. It was never used...
, Jeskyns
Jeskyns
Jeskyns is near Cobham, in Kent, England. A former farm, now large open-space recreational area with areas being developed as new wildlife habitats.-History:...
(a one-time farm of 360 acres (147 ha), which is being turned into a greenspace area and country park by the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
) , Ranscombe Farm and Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall is a country house in Cobham, Kent, England. There has been a manor house on the site since the 12th century. The current building consists of a pair of Tudor wings built for William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham in the 16th century and a later classical central block, and a kitchen court...
.
There is also a horse riding and cycle path route around the park. As well as a Sensory Garden for the less abled.
Disabled visitors can also use 4*4 electro-scooters (called a Tramper), which can be hired from the visitor centre.
The park also has an eco-friendly visitor centre. Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
thinnings were used from Park Wood, Kent near Appledore
Appledore
-Places in England:* Appledore, Mid Devon, near Tiverton* Appledore, Kent* Appledore railway station* Appledore, Torridge, Devon, near Bideford-Ships and shipbuilding:* Appledore II , schooner based in Camden, Maine...
, as the window and roof joinery.
It is mostly powered by a wind turbine. The centre, has a shop, display boards and cafe.
To the east of the park, are the Furzey Leas Lakes. Steps Lake is 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²) , and Long Lake is 0.65 acres (2,630.5 m²) These are used as angler permitted lakes, on Day Tickets (obtained from the visitor centre).
Since 2006, the park has had a Community Archaeologist as funded by the Heritage Lottery. Finds from the Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
(flint tools) to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
items have been found. Most work has been taken place around the remains of Randall Manor. This was the home of Sir Henry de Cobham who lived there in 1360 to 1400. The house would have been similar to Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote is a medieval moated manor house close to the village of Ightham, near Sevenoaks in Kent .The name "mote" derives from "moot", "meeting [place]", rather than referring to the body of water....
but without a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
. The excavations show that it was a substantial timber-framed hall house with a stone built end. It had a garderobe
Garderobe
The term garderobe describes a place where clothes and other items are stored, and also a medieval toilet. In European public places, a garderobe denotes the cloakroom, wardrobe, alcove or an armoire. In Danish, Dutch, German and Spanish garderobe can mean a cloakroom. In Latvian it means checkroom...
and a separate kitchen making it a high status building. It had outbuildings and three fishponds. It was demolished in 1500 and the building materials re-used in the nearby Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall is a country house in Cobham, Kent, England. There has been a manor house on the site since the 12th century. The current building consists of a pair of Tudor wings built for William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham in the 16th century and a later classical central block, and a kitchen court...
, now a girls' school.
More details of what was found in the park can be seen at http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/heritage/getting_involved/randall_manor_dig_blog_2010.aspx.
One of the '100 Walks in Kent' Book starts in the country park, before heading towards Owletts (a National Trust
National Trust
National Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government...
House), Cobham
Cobham
- Towns or districts :* Cobham, Kent, England* Cobham, Surrey, England* Cobham, Virginia , multiple places- Other place names :* Cobham Intermediate School* Cobham Sports and Social Club...
and Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall is a country house in Cobham, Kent, England. There has been a manor house on the site since the 12th century. The current building consists of a pair of Tudor wings built for William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham in the 16th century and a later classical central block, and a kitchen court...
and then returning to the park.
How to get there
Situated off the A2 Dual carriageway between GravesendGravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
and Rochester. The along Brewer's Road leading towards Shorne.